Branding Revisited

In my further attempts to narrow down the sort of things I’m likely to end up writing stories about, I have abandoned text and gone for a diagram.  Lo! The Venn of Alex:


So, we’ve got

Plain Historical, Plain Fantasy, Plain Romance and Plain Mystery.

Shining in the Sun is a plain romance, and I have an idea for a plain mystery and a plain historical which may or may not come to pass.  But I’m not as happy writing in a single genre as I am writing in at least two at once.

So False Colors, Captain’s Surrender and Blessed Isle are all AD – Historical Romance.

The Witch’s Boy is AB – Historical Fantasy.

Under the Hill is ABD – Fantasy with a strong element of History and Romance.

The Wages of Sin is ABCD – Mystery, Historical Romance and elements of Fantasy.

Future projects include

Whirlwind Boys (AD), an idea for a Historical Mystery (AC) and an idea for a Historical Fantasy Mystery (ABC)

The most consistent thing in the lot is the A – the historical element.  That’s interesting, as I didn’t realize I was quite that wedded to it.  My new tag line definitely seems to sum it all up, though 🙂

It was interesting thinking this through.  It does give me a brand of sorts, but also plenty of room to manoeuvre.  Why haven’t I tried Steampunk yet, I wonder?  You’d have thought it was everything I liked in a single package.

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Jan Jones
13 years ago

Whereas I write CD, ACD, BCD, AD, BD and, er D. Hmm, not tricky to spot the connection there.

Lee Benoit
13 years ago

May I just say that if I didn’t already have an epic brain crush on you (which, for the record, yes) this Venn diagram would totally do the job? Stunning, and *so* helpful for those of us who “live” under one genre’s roof but have rooms and outbuildings devoted to others. They’re all part of the same house, is my point (yeah, long day at work — sorry!).

Also, I love that your diagram looks more than a little like a lotus flower!

(P.S. I attended the New England Leather Alliance’s Fetish Fair Flea Market this past weekend and steampunk gear and costumes were much in vogue.)

Minnette
13 years ago

Love the diagram, Alex! Mine would have A-G, alas, but I’d love to try this. Would be interesting to see how many so far. Let’s see romance, historical, fantasy, paranormal (just finished), urban fantasy (just finished that – Dark Elf, sexy), children’s books, and inspirational. I’m such a writing slut! Yes, I’m back…… M:o)

Lee Benoit
13 years ago

The beauty of your lotus branding device is that it can help clarify which petal(s) a particular story occupies. That’s helpful in the writing, of course, but even more so in deciding where to pitch it, how to develop the synopsis, and all sorts of other odious adjuncts to the writing life. 🙂

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[…] The Wages of Sin is very close to my heart, partly because it’s right in the centre of the venn diagram of my interests, being a historical, paranormal murder mystery, m/m romance. Partly it’s dear […]

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